Reinforced interchangeable artificial tooth and backing



Y Au 17, 1965 R SPALTEN 3,200,495

REINFORCED INT ERCHANGEABLE ARTIFICIAL TOOTH AND BACKING Filed NOV. 9, 1962 FIG.

I N VE NTOR. P056787 5/ 41 7z-W United States Patent 3,260,495 REINFORQED INTERCHANGEABLE ARTIFICIAL TUQTH AND BACKING Robert Spalten, 333 Central Park W., New York 25, N.Y. Filed Nov. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 236,522 3 Claims. (Cl. 329) Viy invention relates to an interchangeable artificial tooth and more particularly to a metal reinforced artificial tooth that interlocks with a metal backing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced anterior and a posterior artificial tooth of the interchangeable type that may be modified by the dentist to meet all the conditions that are encountered in the mouth, thus eliminating the great variety of sizes presently required.

Another object is to provide an interchangeable artificial tooth having a metal reinforcement to which the tooth body is permanently secured for maximum strength.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an interchangeable artificial tooth having the foregoing characteristics wherein the metal reinforcement extends from one proximal area to the other.

A further object is to provide an interchangeable artificial tooth with a metal reinforcement and a backing that may be made from sheet metal, for maximum economy in manufacture.

An additional object is to provide such a tooth with a mating connection to a supporting construction that does not require a visible metal reinforcement at the biting surface to properly transmit the stresses.

Other objects are to provide a transversely curved reinforcement for an artificial tooth to increase its strength and to better its proximal esthetics; to provide a reinforced artificial tooth in which the backing extends into the body of the tooth to provide additional support for the reinforcement and the tooth body; to provide a reinforced tooth and backing in which the interlocking parts do not have to be ground to fit each other; to provide such a tooth with as much body surface as is possible against the tissue to obtain a better esthetic and hygienic effect in the mouth; to provide an interchangeable artificial tooth with maximum esthetics and hygiene consistent with strength; to provide an easily installed replacement tooth upon the backing without necessity for disturbing the backing or supporting construction; and to accomplish the foregoing in an artificial tooth that is less expensive to install and maintain than present artificial teeth.

These and other objects and features of the invention are obtained and my new results accomplished as will be apparent from the artificial teeth described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an interchangeable reinforced anterior tooth incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of an interchangeable reinforced posterior tooth incorporating the invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG, 5 is a perspective view of a sheet metal backing for fitting into the tooth reinforcement;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a solid backing;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of an anterior tooth shown partly in section, having a key slot in the sheet metal reinforcement;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation of the same;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of a sheet metal backing for insertion into the tooth reinforcement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of a solid backing for the same.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, reference numeral 1t) designates an anterior tooth made of porcelain or other suitable material, useful as an incisor, having a metal reinforcement 12, contained therein which may be made of sheet material. The reinforcement is U-shaped, having a longitudinal axis extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tooth. The reinforcement extends into the porcelain body from the rear wall 13 thereof, for a purpose hereinafter explained. I have found that even though the reinforcement extends from the rear wall, that the biting stresses can be transmitted adequately to the reinforcement.

In FIG. 5 is shown a U-shaped metal backing 14 over which the reinforced tooth 1t) fits. The backing illustrated is made of sheet metal. It is provided with leg sections 16 and 18, joined by base 20, which fit snugly into the leg sections 22, 24, and base 26 of the sheet metal reinforcement 12.

The legs 16, 18, 22, and 24 of the backing and reinforcement respectively are preferably transversely curved as shown, which I have found will greatly strengthen the walls of the sheet metal. It further provides the interlock betwen reinforcement and backing. By curving the reinforcement towards the rear of the proximal areas of the tooth, the metal will be relatively unnoticeable from the front, thereby increasing the esthetic value of the tooth.

The tooth body, if made of porcelain may be fused to the metal reinforcement in a manner known in the prior art, or a bonding agent may be employed to secure the tooth body into permanent unitary attachment to the metal reinforcement.

The backing may be mounted to a support (not shown) extending from the rear of the tooth or the backing may be secured proximally to adjacent teeth.

To facilitate such attachment, the hollow backing 14 may be filled with a suitable solder, or it may be cast or formed in the solid form 30, as shown in FIG. 6.

The reinforcement is preferably suitably cemented to the backing to permit subsequent removal or replacement if necessary.

The reinforcement extends laterally from one proximal edge to the other, to obtain maximum resistance to stress. The backing extends for the same width as the reinforcement to insure full contact and support therewith.

Should it become necessary to reduce the Width of the tooth to fit a specified spacing between teeth, the teeth body, reinforcement and backing may all be'reduced to the same extent, thus providing a full reinforcement and support for the space allowed.

The backing is then soldered to the castings which fit the abutment teeth or to the rear support, and the reinforced tooth is then cemented into position on the backing.

By positioning the reinforcement from the rear 01 lingual surface of the tooth, only the smooth tooth material directly engages the tissue on the saddle surface 28 of the tooth which eliminates an unesthetic show of metal, and avoids the junction line therewith which can irritate the tissue and which is also unhygienic.

By containing the reinforcement and backing within the tooth body, I have given the construction maximum resistance to fracture and provided maximum safety during exertion of the biting pressure.

The incisal edges are provided with translucent material to give greater esthetic appearance. By containing the reinforcement and backing within the tooth, the incisal edge is free of metal and made more natural in appearance.

The posterior tooth body 10a shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be provided with an identical reinforcement 12a opening at the back 13a, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus a single reinforcement and backing may be used for both anterior and posterior teeth simplifying the inventory of parts needed in the construction of the teeth and their installation in the mouth.

The reinforcement 12a is similarly contained in the tooth body a opening from the rear or lingual wall 13a thereof. The smooth saddle surface 28a similarly engages the tissue preserving the esthetic and hygienic values. 7

In FIGS. 7 and 8 I have shown an anterior tooth body 10b provided with a modified form of reinforcement 12!) characterized by the keyslot 22k. A corresponding key form 16k is formed in backing 14b so that the backing may be fitted therein.

In this form I prefer to provide an overhang 32 in the reinforcement and mating overhang 32k in the backing to obtain added retention of the porcelain with the reinforcement.

The identical reinforcement and backing 12b and 14b may be used in the construction of the posterior type of tooth such as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the keyed version of the reinforcement and backing, the solid backing 30b may also be used, as is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In the foregoing, I have shown a reinforced anterior and posterior tooth and backing therefore that may comprise the entire inventory of the dentist. With these two basic shapes, he can provide an artificial tooth in the mouth by merely grinding the proximal areas of the reinforced body and backing simultaneously, said backing being fully seated Within the reinforced body, to fit the proximal surfaces of the adjoining structures. The other areas of the tooth body may then be resurfaced to fit the other requirements of space and esthetics.

These teeth are characterized by a reinforcement that provides maximum strength and full resistance to fracture for the tooth body.

Sheet metal can be utilized for making the reinforcement and backing, achieving economy of manufacture.

The curved construction of the reinforcement and backing results in additional strength, while providing the necessary interlock.

By containing the reinforcement and backing within the body of the tooth, I obtain greater esthetic effect, without loss of structural strength. The saddle areas contain only the tooth body material achieving better hygiene and maximum comfort with better esthetics. The construction enables the backing to be properly secured in position, and allows the tooth to be easily fitted and positioned in the mouth. The structure of the tooth permits practically unlimited grinding on all surfaces to fit every conceivable situation without loss of favorable strength to stress ratio.

Interchangeability is obtained adding to the economy of the construction.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which objects of my invention are obtained and new results accomplished since the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to obtain these objects and accomplish these results.

I claim:

1. An artificial tooth for attachment to a support in the mouth, said tooth having a body portion simulating a natural tooth, a U-shaped metal reinforcement permanently affixed to the tooth body, the legs of the U-shaped metal reinforcement extending from one lateral edge of the body to the other, the space between the legs of the U-shaped metal reinforcement having a cross-section that is transversely curved from one lateral edge to the other, the space between the legs having openings extending towards the lingual side of the tooth body, forming interlocking means in said space between the legs; and a backing for said reinforcement having a similar cross-section as the space between legs of the metal reinforcement to provide a mating connection therewith.

2. The artificial tooth of claim 1, wherein the base of the U-shaped reinforcement is provided with an overhang. 3. The artificial tooth of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped reinforcement and the backing are made of sheet metal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/31 Wells 32-9 References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/43 Slomovici.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,004,056 11/51 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. 

1. AN ARTIFICIAL TOOTH FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SUPPORT IN THE MOUTH, SAID TOOTH HAVINGA BODY PORTION SIMULATING A NATURAL TOOTH, A U-SHAPED METAL REINFORCEMENT PERMANENTLY AFFIXED TO THE TOOTH BODY, THE LGS OF THE U-SHAPED METAL REINFORCEMENT EXTENDING FROM ONE LATERAL EDGE OF THE BODY TO THE OTHER, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LEGS OF THE U-SHAPED METAL REINFORCEMENT HAVINGA CROSS-SECTION THAT IS TRANSVERSELY CURVED FROM ONE LATERAL EDGE TO THE OTHER, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LEGS HAVING OPENINGS EXTENDING TOWARDS THE LINGUAL SIDE OF THE TOOTH BODY, FORMING INTERLOCKING MEANS IN SAID SPACE BETWEEN THE LEGS; AND A BACKING FOR SAID REINFORCEMENT HAVING A SIMILAR CROSS-SECTION AS THE SPACE BETWEEN LEGS OF THE METAL REINFORCEMENT TO PROVIDE A MATING CONNECTION THEREWITH. 